Strategies to Help Young People Lead Healthy Digital Lives

With headlines championing phone bans in schools, restricting social media for under-16s, and even proposing a nostalgic return to "dumb phones" to combat online harm, it's easy to see why responsible adults might feel anxious about their children's digital lives.

So what does the evidence say actually works?...

Research experts from the Universities of Surrey and Bedfordshire are eager to share new evidence on children’s use of smartphones and exposure to social media, emerging from their direct work with young people and schools.

Join Dr Emily Setty, Dr Robyn Muir, and Jonny Hunt on 4th November to discover their research-backed recommendations for fostering healthy digital habits. They'll dispel common myths about the risks and challenges of being online while offering practical strategies to keep young people safe.

Their insights will empower parents, young people, and school staff to engage in open, honest conversations about digital life. Topics will include navigating relationships, mental health, and well-being in a digital age, with an emphasis on the complexities of parenting and supporting young people's rights online.

Don't miss this chance to weigh in on a pressing issue and leave equipped with valuable strategies and solutions.

Young people, parents/carers, and school staff are invited to join the debate.

Young people who join will be offered the chance to take part in a paid future Podcast about their experiences online.

This event is running as part of this year's ESRC Festival of Social Science.